TAGS: Polymer Reinforcement Additives for Packaging
NeoGraf Solutions signs an exclusive technology partnership agreement with First Graphene Limited. The 10-year deal sets the stage for explosive growth for NeoGraf’s graphene products in a range of U.S. markets, including the composites and thermoplastics industries.
NeoGraf will sell First Graphene Ltd.’s PureGRAPH® products under its Graf-X™ brand, which is well known and has an established position in the U.S. market.
Agreement to Extend Industry Reach
The agreement provides NeoGraf with graphene products and solutions that extend its range and industry reach and expand its position as the premier graphene technology company in North America.
With strong expectations of growth the 10-year pact to develop and grow the U.S. graphene market is subject to performance measures that commence with minimum volume commitments increasing five times the initial volume over the life of the agreement.
The deal provides a direct path for PureGRAPH® products into several established and emerging sectors in the U.S., according to Michael Bell, First Graphene managing director and CEO. “
Not only is NeoGraf a well-known, U.S.-based company, it has a strong reputation and relationship with key organizations in target industries that know and understand how graphene can benefit them.”
The deal is a transformative development for NeoGraf Solutions which has more than 140 years of product leadership and innovation in the carbon and graphite industry.
The company’s graphene products are additive materials that enhance mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, thermal properties, and barrier performance of thermosets and thermoplastics such as polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), polystyrene (EPS and XPS), polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE), polyvinylchloride (
PVC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
Increases Plastics Toughness
The graphene materials can increase the toughness of plastics by up to 2.5 times without a significant weight increase while a loading as small as 0.5wt% can increase tensile strength by 15% or more. A graphene loading of 15% can double thermal conductivity and push the electrical conductivity of plastics into the anti-static and static-dissipative ranges.
Related Read: Conductive Polymer Additive Innovations – Electrical, Graphene & Thermal!
In addition, just 1% or less of graphene nanoplatelet additives are needed to drive performance improvements including increased mechanical strength (up to 30% stiffer), enhanced thermal/electrical properties (conductivity increase by 5x or more), and improved barrier properties.
In composites formulations, loadings of <5wt% of graphene can increase strength by 40%, improve stiffness by 20%, and elevate impact strength by 80%. Graphene can also improve the heat resistance of composites and provide noise reduction of up to 20%.
Graphene materials can be used in a range of plastic applications including electrically conductive fillers for electrostatic discharge (ESD) plastics in automotive electronics and heat resistance additives for under-hood plastic components such as HVAC systems, water pump housings, and valve covers.
Source: NeoGraf Solutions